HARMONIC

SERIES
The sum of the terms of a harmonic sequence is called a
harmonic sequence.
The general harmonic series is of the form:

The nth partial sum of the diverging harmonic series is called the nth
harmonic number
 Example: Write the harmonic series generated
when a = 3 and b = 5.
∞
1
∑ 𝑎𝑘+𝑏
𝑘=1
First term: Second term: Third term:
= = =

= = =
= = =
= = =
 Find the sum of the first 8 terms of the harmonic
sequence
Getting the reciprocal of the
terms of the harmonic
sequence, we get an
arithmetic sequence with a
common difference equal to
1. Therefore, the next 5
terms of the arithmetic
sequence are 5,6,7,8, and 9.
Getting the reciprocal of the next
5 terms of the arithmetic
sequence, we get the next five
terms of the harmonic
sequence , , and
Solution:
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
𝐻8= + + + + + + +
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Find the LCD:
Get the prime factors of each denominator and align those
who are common factors.
Prime factors of 2 = 2
Prime factors of 3 = 3
Prime factors of 4 = 2 x 2 LCD = 2x3x2x5x7x2x3
Prime factors of 5 = 5 LCD = 2 520
Prime factors of 6 = 2 x 3
Prime factors of 7 = 7
Prime factors of 8 = 2 x 2 x2
Prime factors of 9 = 3 x3
 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
𝐻8= + + + + + + +
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1260+ 840+630+504 +420+ 360+315+280
𝐻8=
2 520
1260+ 840+630+504 +420+ 360+315+280
𝐻8=
2520
𝟒𝟔𝟎𝟗
𝑯 𝟖=
𝟐𝟓𝟐𝟎
 7 1 3
𝐹 𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡h𝑒 𝐿𝐶𝐷 : + +
15 8 28

Find the LCD: What is the highest count of the number

Get the prime factors of each denominator 3 as factors?

Prime factors of 15 = 3 x 5
1
What is the highest count of the number
Prime factors of 8 =2x2x2 5 as factors?
Prime factors of 28 = 7 x 2 x 2 1
What is the highest count of the number
All of the denominators have the prime 7 as factors?
factors 3, 5, 7, and 2 1
What is the highest count of the number LCD = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 7 = 840
2 as factors?